Track-sander.



Patanted Feb. 4, I902.

N. B. DODGE.

TRACK SANDER.

(Application filed July 8, 1901.)

(No Model.)

' Wkazaielfi loge,

m: uonms versus co, mmou'ruofl wAsumcroN. n. c.

UNlTF PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL B. DODGE, OF FIICI'IBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRACK-SANDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,253, dated February 4, 1902.

Application filed July 8, 1901. Serial No. 67,419. No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL BRYANT DODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fitchburg, county of WVorcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Track-Sanders, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

My invention is an apparatus for directing steam or sand, or both, on the track for traction purposes and also, if desired, for the purpose of cleaning the track and preparing it so that the drivers of an engine can get a good grip on the track for holding purposes.

Various devices for sanding a track have been heretofore provided and proposed, my invention, however, being radically different from these in many respects. It positively withdraws sand from the sand-box, not merely permitting the sand to feed by gravity from the sand-box, as has heretofore been done, but actually drawing the sand forcibly through the pipe and dischargingit with more or less of a blast, as may be required for the purpose in hand, my device also automatically clearing the sand-pipe and being operated, preferably, by steam from the exhaust of the airpump, which acts automatically to discharge the sand.

The constructional details of my invention will be pointed out more fully in the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken detail, in side elevation, showing my invention applied to a usual locomotive. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, mainly in side elevation, parts being broken away and shown in section, illustrating the main features of my invention and their operative position. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken sectional view on the line 4 4, Fig. 1, showing a detail of the sandpipe. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail of the latter on the line 5 5, Fig. at.

It will be understood that the locomotive A may be of any kind, as my invention is intended for application to all traction appara tus of this character.

From a usual sand-box b I provide a pipe 0, terminating at its lower end in a discharge nozzle or casting d, communicating by a pipe 6 with the exhaust-ports of a usual air-pump 7, the details -of the latter not being shown.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5, it will be seen that the casting d has threaded connection at g with the pipe 0 and on its upper side has preferably a box-like enlargement or chamber 72, provided on its lower inner side with a ledge t, which projects and forms a pocket for receivinga preferably independent steam-discharge box or blast-tube 70, which when formed in a separate piece is secured by threaded connection to a short pipe or union m, tightened and clamped in place by a nut 72-, the pipe 6 being threaded to the upper projecting end of the union m.

The under side of the box constitutes the upper wall of the discharge-passage of the nozzle d and contains a series of blast-holes 0, set obliquely to the general direction of the pipe d. The purpose of the inclination of these holes is twofold-viz., to give a desired blast for ejecting the sand forcibly when it is desired to use it in cutting away the ice or accumulations of sand from the track immediately in front of the driving-wheels 0f the engine, and, in the second place, to produce by the strong downward outrush of steam or air a vacuum or tendency to a vacuum in the pipe 0, thereby forcibly drawing downwardly the sand from the sand-box, said sand being normally held back against accidental movement by means of an obstruction in the pipe, preferably in the form of alump or bridge p. (See Figs. 4 and 5.)

Then the exhaust-steam from the pump f is turned into the pipe 6, it finds a ready discharge through the perforations 0 at the lower end of said pipe, which being set at an angle to the discharge-nozzle cl thereby forces out from the latter the contained air and sand, if any, and causes a downrush of air from the pipe 0 until a sufiicient vacuum has been created in the latter to withdraw sand from the sand-box b, and the latter upon reaching the nozzle d is forced forward in the form of a blast sufficient for accomplishing the work desired of it.

It will be observed that by this construction there is no waste of sand, as the latter is under the direct control of the engineer, being automatically stopped the moment that the steam or other ejecting gas or vapor is out off.

The oblique direction of the perforations 0 prevents. any possibility of clogging which might otherwise occur in the discharge-nozzle, as the blast from said holes 0 striking obliquely against the opposite walls of the nozzle cl clears out said pipe and keeps it clean.

By having the pocket or ledge t", the blasttube 76 may be very readily put in position, and is then secured by having the nipple or union m screwed into it and is clamped tightly against the upper end of the chamber h by means of a nut 11, so that no steam can escape except through the holes 0. This form of construction is exceedingly simple and makes the casting of these parts inexpensive and practical.

It will be understood that although in the above description I have set forth the details of my invention and the preferred construction thereof I do not limit myself in all these respects, as very many changes in arrangement and form of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, which is not otherwise limited than as defined in-the appended claims.

Having fully described myinvention, what Iclailn as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the kind described, a sandpipe, a sand-supply therefor, and means for creatinga partial vacuum in said pipe for discharging said sand, said means comprising a series of apertures at one side of said pipe extending obliquely through said side of said pipe, and means for forcing a blast through said apertures toward the outlet of said pipe.

2.- In a device of the kind described, a sandpipe having a discharge-nozzle at its end, a blast-tube in the upper side of said nozzle and having a series of holes opening obliquely toward the opposite lower wall of said sand pipe for discharging a blast toward the open end of the nozzle.

3. In a device of the kind described, a sandpipe having a dischargemozzle provided with a chamber containing a perforated wall opposite one side of the sand-pipe, the perforations in said wall extending obliquely through said wall for discharging a blast therethrough against said opposite side and in the general direction of the discharge end of the nozzle.

4. In adevice of the kind described, a sandpipe having at its lower end a discharge-nozzle provided on its upper side with a blast chamber or box containing holes opening obliquely into the discharge-passage of said nozzle for discharging a blast forcibly down ward toward the discharge end of said nozzle.

5. In adevice of the kind described, a sandpipe having at its lower end a discharge-nozzle provided on its upper side with a chamher, and a blast-tube removably fitted within said chamber con taining oblique perforations on its under side for directing a blast therefrom into said nozzle toward the discharge end thereof.

6. In adevice of the kind described, a sandpipe having at its lower end a discharge-nozzle provided on its upper side with a chamber and having perforations through one side thereof fordirecting a blast into said nozzle, a hollow nipple passing through the upper end of said chamber and engaging said blasttube, and means for clamping said nipple and tube rigidly in position.

7. In a sanding device for locomotives, a sand-pipe having at its lower end a dischargenozzle, the locomotive having a steam airpump, a blast-tube forming the upper wall of the discharge-passage of said nozzle and provided with oblique holes directing a discharge-blast downwardly in said nozzle, and a steam-pipe for providing steam to said tube, said steam-pipe being connected to the exhaust of the air-pump of the engine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHANIEL B. DODGE.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. MAXWELL, GEO. W. GREGORY.- 

